DRAFT . 17 niobium®> and ruthenium’-rhodium'™ contribute most of this activity. The NRDL team reports cesium’” as the major radionuclide in land animals andisland soil and lagoon water contaminated principally by ruthenium'*-rhodium'® and zirconium’*niobium®.°” 6 May 55 AGREEMENT The AECfinds acceptable a land agreement between the Departments of Navy and the Interior on the T.T. with the understanding that the Navy will pay for Enewetak and Bikini Atolls and that the AEC will be given an opportunity to approve in advance the form and content of the agreements covering those twoatolls.'* 13 May 55 CLAIMS LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY After agreement by the Navy and the Pacific islands T.T. officers the Navy Foreign Claims Commission completes settlement of the claims of Marshall Islanders resulting from the March 1954 nucleartests by paying totals of $1,719.27 to Utirik inhabitants and $5,162.53 to Rongelap residents in April and May.'” 8 Jun 55 RADIATION RELOCATION According to AEC Chairman Lewis L Strauss, Rongelap currently is unsuitable for habitation because of radioactivity in the atoll’s northern islands “somewhat above" exposures recommended by the National Committee on Radiation Protection (NCRP) (later named the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and radioactive contamination of mollusks and crustaceans, part of the natives’ diets, in the southern half of the atoll. According to D. H. Nucker, deputy high commissionerof theT.T., shellfish, especially crabs and clams, are traditionally part of the Rongelapese diet. Nucker considérs‘ the island’s shellfish too contaminated to eat. Although the Rongelapese have been alerted to the dangers of radioactivity in the residual contamination in mollusks and crustaceans, Nucker explains Weanticipate something less than 100 percent: cooperation in the ‘avoidance of these areas and foods were the people to return " honie...fhere simply is no practical way to police the people if they were to return home. Consequently, Nucker recommends keeping the Rongelapese on Ejit Island for at least another six months." 5 Oct 55 RADIATION RELOCATION K.E. Fields, general manager of the AEC, advises that repatriation of the Rongelap people should be deferred until data from another planned Rongelap Atoll radiological survey can be evaluated.'" 21-23 Oct 55 CONTRACTOR RADIATION . Crt ' q c> Cc The AFL collects soil and biological samples in the Marshall Islands area for radiological studies."